Mineral Exploration in New Zealand

July 4, 2013

Minerals are essential to New Zealand as they are used to produce and distribute almost everything the country uses in daily life including energy, water supplies, food and housing or they are a component of virtually every other export product, particularly those from manufacturing, farming and high value horticultural products.  The industry contributes at least $400 million directly to New Zealand’s export earnings each year.

The mineral exploration industry in New Zealand is diverse but can be divided into four categories: metals (gold, silver and ironside), aggregates (for building and road construction), industrial minerals and coal (for export, steelmaking and fuel).  In addition, groundwater provides about 40% of New Zealand’s water consumption.  The mineral industry is a leader in environmental performance as well as being worth $1 billion to the economy. So it is fair to say that mineral exploration is vitally important to the New Zealand economy!

In the past it was mainly directed at coal, gold, silver, and ironsand, but since the mid 70’s a wider range of minerals has been targeted. Now more than 20 metallic and non-metallic minerals are mined in the country and a study by the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences conservatively valued New Zealand’s metallic mineral resources at more than $85.5 billion, with additional growth potential for industrial minerals and coal. In addition unique mineral products have also been discovered that command high prices internationally.

Exploration and prospecting are essential to the future development of the mining industry and also contribute to more accurate information about mineral reserves but there is a delay between mineral discovery and mineral exploration of up to 20 years while further investigations, feasibility and environmental investigations take place – that’s why it is important to continually search for new reserves.  Perception of the industry needs to be changed so New Zealanders recognise the significance of minerals and their contribution to the country’s economic well-being including increased revenues, an increase in employment, improved strategic advantages including reduced dependence on imports and benefits in research, education, the export of technology and further long-term expansion of mineral resources.

In our own small way Van Walt can help the mineral exploration industry. Our Window Sampling System has many features that make it particularly invaluable to the mineral exploration community.  The system is small and portable so can be transported to and from sites in an ordinary car or van, so making exploration in inaccessible areas more accessible.

The system is also incredibly strong and suitable for different soils.  Samplers are driven into the soil with a percussion hammer such as the Atlas Copco Cobra TT. All moving parts are manufactured from steel and connection is made by one-piece coupling sleeves.  Different diameters and lengths are available making this system ideal for sampling up to 10 metres in depth in hard soils that may contain rubble, bricks or stones. The gouges are laser cut and shaped specifically to improve insertion speeds, making it the ideal system for repetitive sampling.  The sampler top is hollow to maximise the percussive action and the top sections are manufactured as one piece and are pressed then welded onto the sampler for added strength. In addition our RD 32 rope thread connection is also very strong as it has no moving parts and all our cutting heads are manufactured from hardened steel and rigidly tested to withstand 30 minutes on reinforced concrete.

The whole system is maintenance free and collects undisturbed samples for onsite profile evaluation or in a unique foil liner for analysis offsite. The Van Walt Window Sampling System has been used around the world for mineral exploration so for more information on this system click here.